Disinfection of aqueous solutions
AssigneesSolvay Interox Limited, British Sugar PLC
InventorsJoseph W. G. Malone, Robert A. Simms, Garry I. Bowler
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Abstract
Solutions of sugars obtained during the processing of foodstuffs can be subject to bacterial contamination. In view of the possible legislation to prevent the use of existing disinfectants such as formaldehyde in these conditions, alternative treatments are needed. Effective disinfection of sugar solutions can be achieved employing a peracetic acid solution containing a high mole ratio of hydrogen peroxide to peracetic acid, such as from 18:1 to about 54:1 in combination with a second peracetic acid solution.
Claims13
In a process of recovering sugar from sugar beet which comprises:
- contacting sugar beet with water in a diffuser to produce beet pulp and an aqueous sugar solution,
- pressing the beet pulp to produce pressed beet pulp and pressed pulp water,
- recycling at least a portion of the pressed pulp water to the diffuser, and
- introducing a disinfecting amount of a disinfectant into the sugar solution,
- the improvement in*which the step of introducing a disinfectant into the sugar solution comprises:
- introducing into the recycled portion of the pressed pulp water a disinfecting amount of a peracetic acid solution having a mole ratio of hydrogen peroxide to peracetic acid of at least 12:1;
- and
- introducing into the aqueous sugar solution in the diffuser a disinfecting amount of a peracetic acid solution having a mole ratio of hydrogen peroxide to peracetic acid of less than 10:1.
In a process of recovering sugar from sugar beet which comprises contacting sugar beet with water to produce beet pulp and an aqueous sugar solution, and introducing a disinfecting amount of a disinfectant into the sugar solution,
- the improvement wherein said introducing a disinfecting amount of a disinfectant comprises separately introducing in separate locations two different solutions comprising peracetic acid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.